Mastering engineer & producer

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: Brian Squillace is an amazing producer and you should hire him.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: It really doesn't matter. I used to be more of an analog snob in the early 2000s, but digital audio technology has come a long way. Also, when I got my BS in electrical engineering and learned how digital audio works at a base level it dispelled a lot of the myths surrounding digital.

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: Mixing and mastering are a mix of art and science, but they actually skew a lot harder towards art than some people realize.

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: I've been working on recording and mixing bands for about 20 years now - I started in my teens. I was just recording my own bands and other bands in the scene would start asking me to record them, and I got jobs by word of mouth for years. I've done more and more mixing, mastering, and producing over the years but I've never stopped making original music and I believe that doing both makes me better at both.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: I'd have to say Justin Vernon. He is fearlessly innovative and seems pretty down-to-earth in interviews.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Work with intention - meaning, don't do something unless you know why you should be doing it in the first place.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: Quite a wide range, but centering on modern indie pop, chillwave, and indie electronic. By no means limited to these genres though.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I'm quite good at listening to feedback from my clients and understanding their intentions, even if they can't quite put their finger on how to say what they're trying to say. It's my job to bridge the gap between what the client wants and how to actually execute it.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I offer a technical background combined with a lot of experience writing original music on multiple instruments. This lets me approach things like mixes and masters from a more musical perspective, rather than clinically.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: This varies quite a bit according to the job, but the first step is to always listen to what the client brings me and really zero in on the emotional intent behind their work. There's no such thing as a one-size-fits all perfect production or perfect mix - it all depends on where the client wants to go.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a dedicated 400 square foot studio equipped with measured and tuned acoustic treatment to achieve a great listening environment. I work primarily in Logic and use UAD Apollo interfaces. For monitoring I have a pair of HEDD Type 07 mk2s and a HEDD Bass 08 as well as a pair of Auratone Mixcubes. For tracking and production, I have a variety of synths, guitars, a ton of guitar pedals, an acoustic piano, and a collection of microphones.

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: I'm most inspired by people like Johny Greenwood, Justin Vernon, and George Martin. They're all excellent producers because they are excellent musicians, and they know how to bring that musical touch to the technical side of a production in innovative and emotionally resonant ways.

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: I'm most often hired for mixing and mastering work, although production and arranging are also common.